A large passenger aircraft is “the jewel of modern manufacturing” and “will bring significant progress in a number of basic disciplines,” said a spokesman for COMAC, the government consortium that leads the C919 project.

But it faces major hurdles, analysts say.

“There’s a whole realm of technology and manufacturing acumen that isn’t going to be available in China,” said Bill King, an aerospace specialist at the Washington State Department of Commerce.

The country already has shown it can create a successful auto industry, and eventually “they’re going to be a formidable competitor,” King said, “but they need technology from the global marketplace if they’re going to be competitive with Boeing and Airbus, who are taking the best technologies from all over the world.”

About 30 Washington companies have expressed interest in supplying to the Chinese project, King said. Because of concerns over intellectual property, they are taking a cautious approach, he added, not offering their most advanced technology.

COMAC said it has signed agreements with Kirkland-based Hamilton Sundstrand, as well as GE, Parker Aerospace, Honeywell, Goodrich and others.

“With the C919 project, China Commercial Aircraft Company’s cooperation with some of Washington’s aviation and aerospace enterprises will be more in-depth, extensive and lasting,” COMAC’s spokesman said.